Chapter fifteen:
Together Again
It was only five minutes before Wormtail was instructed to get the goblin from the cellar, having his wand pointed at Ron and Harry to make sure no one would escape and escorted Griphook up to the living room where he would be evaluated. Suddenly, Dobby appeared into the cellar, causing everyone to look over at the elf. "Dobby? What are you doing here?" Ron asked. Dobby looked around at the eyes watching him before looking to Harry. "Dobby has come to rescue Harry Potter of course. Dobby will always be there for Harry Potter." Dobby replied. "You say that you can apparate out of this room?" Harry asked, getting an idea as Luna looked at the scene before them. "Can you take us with you?" Ron asked. "Of course, I'm a elf." Dobby stated, giving a shrug. "Well, Dobby, take Luna and Mr. Ollivander, please. Take them to shell cottage its near the sea." Harry explained. Luna looked over to Dobby. "When you're ready, sir." Luna said. Dobby seemed surprised. "Sir? I like her very much!" Dobby stated before adding, "Meet you upstairs soon!" before apparating with Luna and Ollivander once they took hands. Luna and Ollivander then landed at the beach, having to wait for Harry, Ron and Hermione meanwhile Dobby left to retrieve them. Bellatrix began interrogating Griphook about how the sword had gotten out of her family vault. "So once again, goblin. Think it very very carefully. How did it get here?" Bellatrix asked in hostility. "I do not know." Griphook replied. "You don't know? Please try again. Who got into my vault? Who stole it? Who stole it!" Bellatrix stated in anger. "Impossible to break into Gringotts, the sword is there." Griphook corrected. Bellatrix looked at Hermione on the floor. "Mudblood! How did it get here then?" Hermione remained silent. "Nowhere is safer, than in Gringotts bank." Griphook pointed out. Bellatrix turned her attention back to the goblin. "Consider yourself lucky, goblin." Bellatrix responded, blowing air into his face to mock him. "Wormtail! Get me the wandmaker!" Bellatrix shouted. Wormtail hurried and shuffled off to the cellar. Draco was silent and worried as he stood watching the scene with Bellatrix. Upon walking there, Wormtail approached the gate and pointed his wand at Harry and Ron. "Where's the wandmaker?" Wormtail asked. Harry glared at Wormtail. "You owe Harry, Peter. I should've let Sirius and Remus finish you off but i didn't." Ron stated, Harry was already back to looking like himself. Wormtail knew that was true so upon opening the gate, he figured he would let them go. "I-I do owe you. Please don't tell them." Wormtail replied, stepping aside. Harry and Ron then ran out and at the top of the stairs, they peered over the corner at the scene. Before Wormtail would go up the stairs, the silver hand that Voldemort gave him turned against him and strangled Wormtail to death for working against Voldemort.
Once on top of the stairs, Harry and Ron peered over the corner to spot Hermione on the floor and Bellatrix walking back over to her. "I suppose we'll just have to try this one again." Bellatrix stated with a devious grin. Ron got mad. "Like hell..." Ron stated before rushing over as Harry followed. "Expelliarmus!" Harry casted at Bellatrix, disarming her. "Stupefy!" Ron casted, knocking Narcissa to the floor before they turned to see Hermione in Bellatrix's grip. "Stop! Drop your wands." Bellatrix stated, waiting for a moment before parting her lips again, her hand holding a knife to Hermione's throat. "I said, drop them!" Bellatrix stated impatiently. Once they dropped them, she turned her head to Draco, whom stood there bewildered. "Pick em up, Draco, now!" Bellatrix shouted. Draco jumped a little before he ran right over and collected the wands on the floor before retreating back to his spot. "Well well well...look who we have here. Its Harry Potter. Whole bright, shiny and new again. Just in time for the Dark Lord. Call him..." Bellatrix taunted Hermione by her ear. Draco and Lucius looked at each other, neither wanted to face Voldemort. "Call him!" Bellatrix shouted impatiently. Lucius then rolled up his sleeve and as he went to call Voldemort, his attention was diverted to the chandelier above. Dobby had appeared on top of the Malfoy chandelier and was unscrewing it, letting it crash to the ground, splitting up Hermione and Bellatrix. "Stupefy!" Harry then casted at Lucius, knocking him away before he could call Voldemort. "Stupid elf! You could have kill me!" Bellatrix screeched. "Dobby never meant to kill. Dobby only meant to maim or seriously injure." Dobby stated as he was safe on the ground. Once Narcissa had gotten back up, Dobby snapped his fingers and took Narcissa's wand. Harry ran over to Draco, attempting to pull the wands away from him but Draco then decided to pretend he was struggling and simply just let Harry take them, once again for the sake of Luna. "How dare you take a witch's wand?! How dare you defy your masters!" Bellatrix shouted in anger. Dobby stood up straight before talking. "Dobby has no master! Dobby is a free elf...and Dobby has come to save Harry Potter and his friends." Dobby explained. Dobby then went to apparate the trio and himself but before he could, Bellatrix tossed in her knife, hoping to do damage.
Draco remained silent, in hopes that no one there knew he was letting Harry get away on purpose before deciding to walk off to the cellar to check and see if Luna was still there after Bellatrix apparated the mansion. Upon checking, he only spotted a dead Wormtail on the steps, but the cellar empty. Draco was relieved that she escaped and hoping that she was safe. Meanwhile, Luna remained at shell cottage with Ollivander and the newlyweds Bill and Fleur. Sirius Black had also made a quick visit to the cottage to check up on Harry but waited inside. Upon seeing the rest arrive, she walked over to the ocean and saw Harry cradling Dobby, upset. Dobby had gotten the end of Bellatrix's knife and passed away. "We should close his eyes...don't you think?" Luna said, taking her two fingers and closing Dobby's eyelids. "There. Now he could be sleeping." Luna added softly. "I want to bury him. Properly, without magic." Harry stated after a moment of silence. Sirius had spotted the scene from the cottage and decided to walk over. "Got a surprise, Harry. Sirius is here but only a visit." Luna explained. Harry then looked passed Luna's shoulders and spotted Sirius approaching. "Sirius." Harry stated, surprised to see his godfather there. Sirius noticed the elf and Harry upset. "I'm so sorry, Harry." Sirius said, motioning to Dobby. Harry then looked at Dobby with a saddened expression. They all ended up burying Dobby together after Harry and Sirius had a quick welcoming hug along with a chat before Sirius had to return to the Order.
Luna had been thinking about Draco most of the time she was at shell cottage and missed him quite a lot. She didn't want him to be by himself, in a way, back at the school though by now the students were back from the Easter holiday. She also wanted to help out Neville with the D.A. again. Packing up her things, Luna left the cottage and walked out the door, to the spot where they buried Dobby, finding Harry. "I'm going back to school." Luna explained. Harry was surprised that she was going back to the death eater ran school but he also figured it was because of Draco. "You know, Hogwarts isn't the same as it used to be." Harry warned. Luna smiled. "I know. Neither am i." Luna replied confidently before walking off towards the beach and then apparated to Hogwarts. Once Luna appeared on the school grounds, she made her way up to the school and was confronted by Filch coming from the castle. "Late to school, i see. Come on here..." Filch spewed, grabbing her forearm and dragging her into the castle. "I was kidnapped. It wasn't my fault." Luna stated as they got into the castle.
Snape had cut them off in the middle of the hallway towards the headmaster's office, knowing exactly what happened at the Malfoy manor. "Miss Lovegood is very late to the school, sir. She claims she was kidnapped." Filch explained proudly. Snape moved his piercing gaze from Filch to Luna. "Fortunately, i know about the situation and she will be excused with the deduction of ten points from Ravenclaw for tardiness. Run along to your dormitory, Miss Lovegood." Snape vouched for her. Filch let Luna go from his grip and she immediately left with her things to Ravenclaw tower. Snape and Filch then departed. Draco was sitting in the Great Hall at the end of the Slytherin table during lunch time, his left hand holding up his jaw as his elbow remained on the table top, getting lost in his thoughts about what had occurred over the Easter holiday. Draco didn't know what would exactly come this year but he knew it was going to be rough. Upon hearing the doors to the Great Hall open, Draco's eyes darted in the direction of the sound to notice Neville and Ginny with Luna - Luna? Draco then stood up from where he was seated and kept his blue eyes on her, looking dumbfounded.
Luna smiled as she spoke to her friends, telling them about what happened back at Malfoy manor before looking over to the Slytherin table after Ginny elbowed Luna to motion in Draco's direction. Luna connected her eyes with Draco's before Draco made his way over to her and stopped in front of her. Neville and Ginny left to give them privacy and headed to the Gryffindor table. "You came back? Why risk it?" Draco asked in concern. Luna took her hand into hers and smiled softly. "I wanted to see you and i love Hogwarts." Luna replied. Draco was happy to see her but be also wanted to make sure she was safe. Draco and Luna have had an off and on relationship for three years now, one would say that they have become protective of each other, especially Draco. "Well in that case, I'm glad that you're back." Draco flashed a crooked smile. Deciding to skip lunch, Draco and Luna snuck off to the fifth floor corridor in attempt to not be caught and stood the steps of the narrow corridor. Luna didn't want to use the Room of Requirement in order to divert any Professors and Snape from knowing they were using it during the night. Draco and Luna's fingers intertwined before Draco leaned in and kissed her softly for the first time in weeks. As Luna gave into the kiss, Draco gently pressed her up against the wall of the corridor. Draco would've lost his mind if anything were to have happened to her especially at his manor.
After they made up from time lost, Luna and Draco sat down, Luna having to sit on Draco's lap due to the limited space in the narrow corridor. "I apologize for my family keeping you captive." Draco spoke, playing with the end of her blond hair lightly. Luna furrowed her eyebrows as she got lost in thought for a moment. "I know it wasn't you, Draco. You're not much of a threat." Luna replied. Draco wasn't sure whether to take that as a compliment or as an insult but he figured it was a compliment coming from Luna. "I suppose that's a good thing...not to my family anyway but.." Draco stated. Luna locked eyes with Draco. "To me, its a good thing. It means you're not a bad person...just pressured to be someone you're not." Luna explained. Draco knew she was right but sometimes his ego prevented him from admitting it. "I suppose." Draco said. Snape had been walking down the halls before coming to a halt, hearing talking of a familiar voice that wasn't in the Great Hall. Appearing to the bottom of the steps of the corridor, Draco then diverted his attention quickly. "Mr. Malfoy and Miss Lovegood...you are not allowed to lurk in the corridors..." Snape instructed firmly. Luna frowned. "I wasn't lurking, Professor." Draco sneered. Snape tilted his head slightly to Draco's back talk. "My office...now." Snape demanded, adding "And ten points from Ravenclaw. Go to your classes, Miss Lovegood." Upon hearing the demand, Luna got up from Draco's lap and exited the corridor, passing Snape before heading to class. Draco stood up on the steps, peering over Snape before Snape motioned for him to go with his head. Draco walked out, forming a glare towards him as he passed before making his way towards the Headmaster's office.
Once inside Snape's office, Draco took a seat and watched as Snape went to sit at his desk. "Let me guess..you're going to make me clean the bathrooms again?" Draco mocked sarcastically. Snape wasn't amused by Draco's sarcasm and wasn't particularly in the mood. "Not precisely, Mr. Malfoy...however, there will be absolutely no romantic relationships while in school, do you understand?" Snape commanded. Draco wasn't particularly fond of Snape being headmaster but now he didn't like the new set of rules either. "Is that clear?" Snape repeated himself. "Yes, Professor." Draco replied bitterly. Of course Draco wouldn't obey it, not when it came to Luna. "Detention, you will report to McGonagall. Tonight." Snape declared. Draco bit his cheek before exiting the headmaster's office and went to his next class which happened to be unfortunately the Dark Arts with Luna but separate seating. Carrow still was unforgivable for what Draco had done to protect Luna but not that Draco cared about what Carrow thought about him. After the rest of the classes, Draco had walked with Luna to the Great Hall for dinner - both of them were starving from skipping lunch earlier. They went to their house tables and began eating, Draco meanwhile thought about what exactly what McGonagall could give him to do in detention. Probably polish trophies or something ridiculous, since he wasn't a Gryffindor.
Once dinner came to an end, Draco headed out of the Great Hall but Luna had followed him. Before he could walk any further, Draco felt his hand be touched and immediately turned around to see his girlfriend. "Where are you going?" Luna asked curiously. Draco sighed before looking around to make sure Snape wasn't around snooping and then brought his blue gaze onto Luna. "I've got detention with McGonagall. Snape assigned me that earlier unfortunately." Draco explained. Lately, Snape's punishments have been quite lenient for the most part and sometimes Draco questioned it. "Oh okay. Well, it could be with a Carrow. I'm glad that you will be okay." Luna replied, smiling briefly. Draco curved a crooked smile onto his lips before leaning in to give Luna a peck on the lips. "I have to get going to detention. See you in the morning." Draco stated. Luna smiled as she watched Draco walk off down the hall towards McGonagall's office. Once Draco arrived to McGonagall's office, McGonagall stood up from her desk. "Mr. Malfoy, i have learned of your situation with Miss Lovegood from Professor Snape..." she began explaining. Draco seemed rather annoyed over the words about his situation he was serving detention for. "What do i have to do?" Draco asked. McGonagall knew that Draco was fond of Luna from what Snape informed her on and despite her skepticism because he was considered a death eater, she also knew Draco since his first year. Given that fact, she figured he did have an attachment for the Ravenclaw, having also known from Dumbledore's suspicions before he was killed.
"For the next few days, i would need you to erase the boards as directed and clean the erasers. Then organize the Transfiguration books accordingly, first year to seventh year." McGonagall instructed. Draco thought it was rather easy, far better than the punishment Snape gave him the last time though he had detention with McGonagall the previous year as well. As the days passed by, Luna kept meeting with the D.A. in the Room of Requirement where they would be spotting Harry and making sure that he would be fine as well as they continued to pick each other up and plan things. Neville was given the hint from the portrait of Ariana Dumbledore to follow her and as he did so, Neville made his way through the hidden tunnel and it opened to reveal Harry, Ron and Hermione with Aberforth. Neville greeted them and brought them through the tunnel, explaining to them how they found this tunnel and how it was going through school while Luna and the rest waited in the room. "You look..." Hermione trailed off. "Like hell, I reckon. But this is nothing. Seamus is worse." Neville explained, adding "The grounds are crawled with Death Eaters and Dementors." "How about Snape as Headmaster?" Hermione asked curiously. "Hardly ever seen. It's the Carrows who's watching out for." Neville replied. "Carrows?" Harry asked. "Yeah. Brother and sister. In charge of discipline. They like punishment, the Carrows." Neville stated. The Carrows were awful death eaters. "They did that to you? Why?" Hermione asked. "Today's Dark Arts lesson was practicing the Cruciatus curse. On first years. I refused. Surprisingly, earlier in the year before Easter holiday, Seamus was instructed to use that on Luna but Malfoy interrupted. He took it himself before attacking the Carrow. I helped him bring Luna to the hospital wing after the Carrow stupefied her before Malfoy paralyzed Carrow...Hogwarts has changed." Neville explained before approaching the end of the tunnel to the Room of Requirement. "Malfoy?" Ron asked in disbelief. The trio were surprised to hear Draco do something like that, it didn't sound like the bully they knew. "Yes, Malfoy." Neville replied, adding "Let's have a bit of fun, shall we?" Neville said to the trio with a smirk on his lips before the portrait opened, having the trio stay in for a moment.
"Hey, you lots! It's for your surprise." Neville announced. The students looked up at Neville. "No more about Aberforth's cook's gonna help. We'll be surprised if it's just digested." Seamus stated bluntly. Then Harry appeared from the portrait hole with Ron and Hermione before the applauding from the students began. "Get the word out to Remus and the others, that Harry is back." Neville told one D.A. member before turning to the cheering crowd. "Okay, okay! Let's not kill him before You-Know-Who does." Neville added to quiet the crowd down. "What's the run, Harry?" Seamus asked. "Okay. There's something we need to find. There's something hidden here, in the castle. And it may help us to defeat. You-Know-Who." Harry explained. Everyone looked at Harry as if they were clueless. "Alright, what is it?" Seamus asked. "We don't know." Harry replied. "Where is it?" Cho asked. "We don't know that either. I realize that's not much to go on." Harry replied. "That's nothing to go on." Seamus pointed out. "I think it has something to do with Ravenclaw. It'll be small, easily concealed. Anyone, any ideas?" Harry explained.
Luna got to thinking and figured it may be the historical trinket that all Ravebclaws know about. "Well, there's Rowena Ravenclaw's lost diadem." Luna mentioned. "Oh, bloody hell! Here we go!" Ron muttered. "Lost diadem of Ravenclaw? Hasn't anyone heard of it? It's quite famous." Luna asked around, hearing no response until one student replied. "Yes. But, Luna, it's lost. For centuries. There's no person alive today who's seen it." Cho pointed out. "Excuse me, can someone tell me what bloody diadem is?" Ron asked, confused. "It's a sort of crown. You know, like a tiara." Cho explained. "Harry!" Ginny exclaimed, in panic noticing Harry but no one else. "Six months she hasn't seen me and it's like I'm a Frankie first-year." Ron stated, irritated that his sister didn't notice his presence. "I'm her brother!" Ron added in astonishment. "She got lots of them, but she has got only one Harry." Seamus replied to Ron to irritate him. "Shut up, Seamus." Ron spewed. Seamus smirked. "What is it, Ginny?" Harry asked curiously, noticing her flat, concerning expression. "Snape knows...he knows that Harry was spotted in Hogsmeade." Ginny explained. Luna knew this wasn't good, but knew there was going to be a meeting regarding this spotting of Harry.